The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-22
ADVOCATES OF ASPHALT
City Officers Find that the Material Is
Better than Stone for PaVementS,
And Strongly Recommend Its Use on Wash
ington Street.-The Prohibition National
Convention Offered Use of the City Hail.

In the Council, last evening. the Washington
street improvement came up a report of City
Attorney Taylor and Engineer Shearer, who had
Investigated asphalt pavements in Cincinnati and
Buffalo. An ordinance providing for bids on
this material for the proposed Washington street
work was referred to them. They said that it
needed many amendments that the object
could be better attained by a new ordinance,
which Councilman McClelland introduced. AS
TO Trinidad asphalt, the officers named reported
that its use on nine streets in Cincinnati, dis
tapce OF six miles, gave great satisfaction. as It
did in Buffalo, where there are forty miles or
the pavement. In both cities there is no restric-
tiop to the character of traffic on these
streets. the lehtest vehicles. well as the
heaviest stone wagons, passing over them
In Buffalo, although asphalt pavements have
been in for tie last ten years. there have
been repairs. except where the pavements
have been intention ally cut for the laying of
pipes. Franklin street. which abou. half
mile of the material is lad. was put down in
1873, and although subjected to the heaviest
traffic. il to-day apparently in good condition
those recently laid. The Buffalo city officers
informed the visiting committee that six streets,
on which Medina stone had been laid amount
ing in all to more than $4,000 yards OF pave
ment, had, petition of the property holders.
been replaced with asphalt notwithstanding
the Medina stone quarries distant from the
city mentioned only about twenty miles. The
cost Of paving Washington street under this
ordinance, it is thought by the at
torney and engineer will be less than
two-thrds of the lowest of the bids received for
improving the street with Medina stone. or.
! in other words. will not exceed SIS per foot
each side, excluding curbing. They of
the opinion that asphalt combines the chief
requisites of good pavement in smoothness,
cleanliness noiselessness and durability. From
the nature of its composition, being impervious
to water or chemical matter, they say 1t will
not absorb liquid filth, is the in other
pavements, especially wooden-block pavements,
and is consequently sanitary pavement And
while it makes a smooth pavement. yet. owing
to the sand in its com position. it never becomes
slippery.
The ord1nanee was read the first time but the
Medina stone supporters were not inclined TO let
it go TO the appropriate committee without hav-
ing it understood that another advertisement for
bids for the stone pavement should be made.
Councilman Thalman introduced resolution
providing for ordinance for granite pavement,
but the city attorney held that there cannot be
three ordinances time for improving the
same street II three are introduced, only one
can be passed. and that must stand until it is
affected by the passage OF another ordinance;
hence. If the asphalt measure is adopted, the
Medina stone ordinance fails by being thereby
repealed. the resolution for the granite i'm
provement was referred to the committee on ju-
dietary, while the old asphalt ordinance to give
way to the new one, was stricken from the files
Shortly after granting the Womans Relief
Corps of George 81. Thomas post the free use OF
Tomlinson Hall for ball. a communication
read from Sylvester johnson. He wanted the
best terms the Council could offer for the of
the hall by the national Prohibition convention
The national com mittee of that party is to meet
in Chicago the 30th instant to name the city
in which the convention is 10 be held. A dele
CATION from Indiana is to go there in the inter-
est of Indianapolis. and as it desires to show
their best the advantages of the city for that
purpose, it wants reduced rates for the hall.
The convention. Mr.. johnson said, would bring
people here from every State in the Union, and as
natural gas would no doubt be in use then.
the advertisement the city would obtain woul
be invaluable. Councilman McClelland moved
place the rent to be paid by the convention at
$50 per day. one-half the schedule rate. Coun-
cimen Cummings and Thaiman protested
against any privileges of the kind being granted
60 any one. they claiming that the hall was
expense to the city and to make il sef-sustain-
ing every body ought to pay for its Coun-
Gilman Thaiman, however. was willing to rent
to the Prohibitonists for $50 per day. Citizens.
he said, would gladly contribute toward paying
the amount necessary il the convention
brought here. Councilman Cummings would
make no compromise, and when the McCleland
motion put vote he and Councilman
Thalmau, with q ma ority voted against it.
Councilman Haugh then moved to give the con-
vention free use of the hall This
but in the of the evening
Councilman Dell moved to reconsider the mo-
ton, which prevailed, Cummings and Thalman
alone voting against reconsideration. The orig
inal motion giving the hall free was adopted on
a call of the yeas and nays, the vote favorng it
being IL and that against g.
Councilman Coy moved that three councilmen
and two aldermen be appoint led com mittee to
devise some plan looking to the erection at
early date of suitable building for city Offices
city courts council chambers and station house
The motion prevailed and on part of Council the
Mayor appointed Coy, Dunn and Mackey to act
said committee.
A petition from owners OF real estate abutting
on Singleton, Gray, Applegate. New and Nc
Rae streets and on certain alleys in Beaty's
subdivision asked for a vacation ordinance. The
streets named lie between the Belt Railway
and Beecher street and the vacation of part of
them together with the alleys is desired on ac-
count of the United States wire-works. That
corporation proposes to erect buildings on land
in this subdivision and the structures, it is
represented. must be of greater length than the
lots will allow without vacating the streets or
building across them. The petition
ferred to the committee on streets and alleys.
Ernst kitz has new enterpr Use. He proposes
to have at fire headquarters, day and night, a |
man with horse and buggy, whose duty it will
be to carry patrons from their places of business
TO fires when they may occur Oh distant property |
owned by them. He asked the Council, last night,
TO let him have the right of way to streets ac-
corded to firemen. and. also TO gong on his |
vehicle. The privilege was allowed him.
The ordinance prohibiting anyone from lott |
eriDg in the Market-house aisles, or obssructng |
them in any way, was passed
The Council authorized the Mayor and finance |
committee to renew the temporary loan of SO. 900
due Dec. 10, the most favorable terms, and |
then adjourned.
DISCOVERY OF OLD DOCUMENTS.